The Quality

When someone new looks at kitesurfing equipment, its not always apparent why one product stands above others. Slingshot's reputation of quality construction should not be second-guessed. First, every kite Slingshot makes is tested for water-relaunchability. Every Slingshot kite will relaunch easily from the water. This is not true for many other brands. Also, Slingshot has created their own standards for kite-building and certain characteristics should certainly be considered by anyone purchasing a kite: Mark Cloth material, Folded and Taped Seams, Kevlar wear pads, Strut Wear Pads, Wingtip Wear Pads, 40mm Overlay Double Stitching, Flat Seams preventing LE canopy wear, Scalloped and Re-inforced Trailing Edge, etc. Looking at a Slingshot LEI kite compared to any other brand, the differences jump out immediately.

Mark Cloth and Teijin 45mm is the #1 reason. Mark Cloth is the highest strength-rated ripstop. This cloth is used at all the battens so if there's a tear in the ripstop, it won't reach the batten which makes repairs much easier and less costly. The folded and taped seams are stronger than other seams on the canopy and just looking at the canopy of a Slingshot kite, compared to any other kite, and you can instantly see the Slingshot difference.

The kevlar wear pads everywhere on the kite to prevent edges that typically get dragged over sand won't get worn out quickly. The 40mm overlap stitching is also important, and refers to the bladder sheathing material being overlapped a considerable distance and stitched down each side, so if one side comes loose, there's still plenty of material to re-sew it so it will hold.

The reinforced trailing edge is not only great for relaunching, but wear. For the battens, Slingshot has the battens attached with nylon reinforced webbing double-stitched to the leading edge for superior strength handling the force of waves crashing into a downed kite.

Ask Chicago Kitesurfing why Slingshot kites keep flying when others have exploded, causing the owner to sit on the sand and watch. If a Slingshot kite does get damaged, the repair is usually 50% less costly. Because of all this attention to quality and durability, Slingshot kites cost 25% more to build than any other brand, but...they still cost you the same! Why buy another inflatable brand?